An Evaluative Study on Tourism in Bangladesh

Abstract:-
Tourism has become a great source of foreign exchange earning in Bangladesh. It is
playing an important role to create an employment opportunities in a large scale.
Bangladesh has become now a new tourist zone on the map of the world. The tourism
sector in Bangladesh has been gradually growing from mid-nineties to till now. It has a
great potentiality to develop tourism sector by applying new policies and strategies. This
research has identified whether the contribution of this sector is significant to total GDP
of Bangladesh, identifies the problem of tourism, constraints and suggests remedial
measures for development of tourism sector.

1. Introduction:-
Bangladesh is a country of natural beauty. She is blessed with endowment of Almighty.
A paper by Majbritt (2010) argues that the six (at present 7) Bangladeshi Division offers
both individually and combining a variety of natural and cultural destinations suitable for
tourist attractions. The duty of proper authority is to make it handy for the interest group
both from home and abroad. Mere some initiatives can prove all these potentialities as a
fruitful dream. Proper nurturing of natural beauty can attract people from across the
world. This can be a major contributor in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Bangladesh.
Tourism offers immense potentiality for employment generation, poverty alleviation and
maintaining ecological balance. It is relatively a modern phenomenon, which plays an
intensely important role in the economic development of any country. According to
World Travel & Tourism Council (2011), while economic growth going forward faces
many challenges – as both governments and the private sector in many developed
economies seek to reduce their debts, and as the prices of oil and other commodities rise
– the Travel & Tourism industry is still expected to be one of the world’s fastest growing
sectors. Emerging economies, in particular, are expected to be increasingly important
engines of such growth, boosting both international travel and also generating
increasingly vibrant domestic tourism sectors. As the economy of Bangladesh is growing
one, her dependency should be diversified to reduce risk. Some well established and
revenue contributing sectors like tourism is a burning necessity. Present status of tourism
in Bangladesh and its prospect as a contributor in GDP are the research problems
.Moreover World Travel & Tourism Council (2011) claims that the direct contribution of
Travel &Tourism to GDP is expected to be BDT184.4bn (2.3% of total GDP) in 2011,
rising by 6.3% p.a. to BDT339.2bn (2.3%) in 2021 (in constant 2011 prices). To maintain
a sustainable growth in tourism, its present contribution and future prospects could be
experimented.
1.1 Problem Statement:-
Tourism is one of the most promising sectors for Bangladesh with her huge natural
beauty, heroic historical background and archaeological resources. This research has
identified whether the contribution of this sector is significant to total GDP of
Bangladesh and its future prospects as research problem. It has served the objectives of
assessing different aspects of tourism with point to point analysis. Secondary data
supplied by Bangladesh Economic Review 2010, Bangladesh Parjatan
Corporation and World Travel & Tourism Council have been analyzed with some simple
statistical tools. Recommendations are made for development of infrastructures,
diversification of tourism form and establishment of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in
tourism sector.
Example:-spring brought a tourism boom and elates tour operators in Bangladesh's
Cox's Bazaar, one of the world's largest natural sandy sea beaches.

1.2 Research Objective:-

Tourism industry is not very well established. For making the sector developed and
significant, some modification and arrangement are to be made here. This paper has set
some objectives which will serve the research purpose. The specific objectives of the
study are:
a) To assess different aspects of tourism;
b) To identify the problem of tourism;
c) To analyze the contribution of tourism in GDP of Bangladesh;
d) To explore future prospects of tourism in Bangladesh and
e) To suggests some recommendations for development of tourism sector.

1.3 Research Question:-

a)What problems does Bangladesh face?
b)What is the contribution of tourism in GDP of Bangladesh?
c)What are the future prospects of tourism in Bangladesh?

2. Literature Review:-
All tourism includes some travel but not all travel is tourism. Tourism used to be
recognized as an activity undertaken by those who traveled away from home for holidays,
to visit relatives or to carry out professional business, in the past. Tourism is a composite
of activities, services and industries that deliver a travel experience.Therefore it
encompasses a wide variety of purposes. The officially accepted definition by UNWTO
(1993) is: "Tourism comprises the activities of person traveling to and staying places
outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure,
businesses and other purposes". This definition challenges the commonly held perception
that tourism is purely concerned with recreation and having fun (Holden, 2008). But
according to Gunn (1994) the best working definition of tourism is that of by Mathieson
and Wall (1982 in Gunn, 1994): "Tourism is the temporary movement of people to
destinations outsides their normal places of work and residence, the activities undertaken
during their stay in those destinations, and the facilities created to cater to their needs". At
the present time, tourism is even more far reaching with wider implications. Specialists
have illustrious between 'mass tourism', which involves those features just mentioned,
and 'alternative tourism', which can include cultural, educational, social, environmental,
agricultural and political tourism (Wearing and Neil, 2009). Tourism promotes better
cross culture understanding. For any third world and developing countries, tourism is
seen as an important tool of their regional development, culture, environmental and in
most cases; the tourism portfolio is attached to Economy. This provides us with an initial
insight into the impact of tourism within all countries it has.
2.1 Definition of Concept on Topic
Tourism has become a vastly important and global feature of environmental argument.
Tourism development which consistently ignores environmental concerns is unlikely to
remain viable in the longer term (Pigram, 1990). High volume of tourism can cause
environmental including water, air and noise pollution which are extremely destructive to
a location's sustainable well-being. It is as a significance of the growing awareness of the
harmful effect that tourism has on the environment, as well as a general heightened
understanding of how global warming is affecting our planet, that tourism has been given
an environmental focus. Indeed, sustainable tourism is now a widely known outlet of
tourism, with the state of the environment being given more and more consideration. The
term 'Sustainable Tourism' has been introduced in the context of wider debate about
environmental sustainability and logically implies a form and level of tourism which
maintains a total stock of natural resources (Sinclair, 1998). The growing awareness of
environmental damage in this modern technological world is the reason to address this
term.Murphy (1985) argues that it is the responsibility of the tourism industry to,
"develop and protect its attractions, whether they are natural or man-made, and become a
hospitality industry to make visitor experiences as enjoyable as possible" (p. 10). Though
it is argued that too much emphasis is placed on relatively short term economic impacts
at the cost of considering the long term social and environmental impacts of tourism,
thereby encourages in a better awareness of the problems that the industry creates
(Holloway et al., 2009). The importance of sustainable development is to carry growing
successes into the future in such a way that future generations are not troubled (Pearce et
al., 1990).
Sustainability, sustainable tourism and sustainable development are all well-established
terms (Liu, 2003). There are two components in the definition of sustainable
development. The meaning of development and the condition necessary for sustainability
are those two components (Miltin, 1992). Croall (1995) compares sustainability to the
"link between development and conservation", which should not conflict to each other.
According to Bartelmus (1986 in Tosun, 2001), "development implies a process that
makes an effort to improve the living conditions of people". To meet human needs and
wants is the main objective of development (WCED, 1987) which involves wider
apprehensions with the quality of life (Pearce et al., 1990). When applied to tourism, as
Godfrey (1996 in Gunn, 1994)) points out the concept of sustainable development relates
to a form of environmentally friendly tourism. Aside, Rees (Gunn, 1994 p.85) define
"sustainable tourism development as a positive socio-economic change that does not
undermine the cultural, ecological and social systems upon which local communities and
societies are depended".
2.2 Review of Previous Researches
"Miles of golden sands, towering cliffs, surfing waves, rare conch shells, colorful
Pagodas, Buddhist Temples and delightful sea-food - all this makes what Cox's Bazar is
today , the tourist capital of Bangladesh" (NTO). Cox's Bazar is one of the most attractive
tourist spots, not only in the Bangladesh but also in the world. "The warm, shark free
waters are good for bathing and swimming & while the sandy beaches offer opportunities
for sun-bathing" (NTO). The tourist capital of Bangladesh includes conch shell market,
tribal handicraft, and salt and prawn cultivation. According to a census of aquatic birds, a
total of 15933 birds of 52 species have been spotted in Cox's Bazar (The Daily Star,
2009) can be seen as other attraction. "Aggmeda Khyang, a Buddhist monastery at the
hills, Himchari picnic spot, just about 8 km from Cox's Bazar, Innani Beach 32 km away
from the city, is one of the most spectacular sea beaches in Bangladesh which is very
close to the world's longest sandy beach in Cox's Bazaar and it is situated within the Inani
protected forest; Sonadia island with very little human visitation, Teknaf peninsula, some
80 km from town and picturesque St. Martin Island to the south at 13 km distance from
mainland" are the around attraction of Cox's Bazar (Ahammed, 2010). All these places
are located around Cox's Bazar and easily accessible by road and water sides what makes
this place hub of tourism.
As an international destination, Bangladesh has a mixed image. Tourists from abroad
perceive a negative awareness of Bangladesh from news media. People from outside
perceive as place where the population is living in poverty, corruption and in natural
disasters. Though the new seven natural wonders search 2009 have made the country
attractive for tourism and is also charted as one of the top ten interesting destinations by
new travel books (Quader, 2010). Bangladesh is still one of the countries in South Asia
with the fewest arrivals and the lowest revenue earned from the tourism industry. WTTC
(2011) predicts that the contribution from travel and tourism will increase 6.3% per
annum till 2021. According to Bari (FE, 2014), "At present, around 1.50 million
international tourists visit Bangladesh each year.Though the economic contribution of
tourism and the share of Cox's Bazar to the national economy are not studied with
reliable statistics (Ahammed, 2010) still the tourism industry leaders said in Financial
Express (FE, 2010) that Bangladesh can earn US$2.0 billion in annual revenue from the
tourism sector if it can attract two million international tourists. According to the general
manager of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, revenue earning from the tourism sector is
experiencing a downward trend and the revenue from tourism sector was approximately
51 million in 2008, which came down to 47 million in 2009. Till June 2010, the revenue
was 26 million (FE, 2010).
3. Research Methodology:-
In tourism research there is an on-going need for statistical insights but qualitative
research offers a great deal of understanding at social life from in a different way
(Phillimore and Goodson, 2004). Phillimore and Goodson (2004) argue that tourism
researchers are not bound to adopt a simple set of methods, and are therefore free to
combine a wide range of approaches with a more sophisticated attitude to use qualitative
research.
3.1 Sources of Data
This project has two types of data sources primary and secondary data sources. In terms
of primary data sources, this dissertation will be relied on the research work that I have
carried out on sustainable tourism development in Cox's Bazar. Priority will be given to
the un structured interviews.
This research will also contain some secondary research. Collecting data from people
who are involved with the tourism industry in Bangladesh will give considerable ideas
that will have been formed by looking at secondary literature. It will also provide the
dissertation with a personal insight which cannot be gained from conducting qualitative
research alone.
3.1.1 Primary Research
From the outset, I decided that my research objectives will more easily lend themselves
to more qualitative forms of analysis. This study will essentially attempt to determine
how a number of complex concepts impact and relate to one another. It will require the
subject area to be looked at from a number of different perspectives and for links between
these separate perspectives to be determined. Britten et al (1995) suggest that employing
qualitative methodology allows for the researcher to, "Address research questions of
immediate relevance which are otherwise difficult to investigate" (p. 105). It is for these
reasons that this study will approach the research objectives from a qualitative, rather
than giving practical weight to quantitative, approach.
3.1.2 Secondary Research
Secondary analysis has a well-established pedigree. This will provide the useful
information in order to understand the background of the subject. Hakim (1982) state
that, "secondary data analysis is any further analysis of an existing dataset which presents
interpretations, conclusions or knowledge additional to, or different from, those produced
in the first report on the inquiry as a whole and its main results"(p 1). Secondary data can
embrace a whole range of experimental forms; it can include the data generated through
systematic reviews, through documentary analysis as well as the results from government
sponsored surveys (Smith, 2008).
3.2 Method for Data Collection
I chose un-structured interviews as my primary research method. Kvale (1983) states that
the use of this method presents the researcher with the opportunity to, "gather the life-
world of the interviewee with respect to interpretation of the meaning of the described
phenomena"
I will hope to conduct this research in Cox's Bazar. However, it did became clear to me
early in my research that this was not likely to be popular. Instead, I will chose to focus
my research on travel agencies in the UK who offer holidays to Cox's Bazar and other
parts of Bangladesh. I will chose to target travel agents here. As people working in the
industry are answering my questionnaires, I assured them that they will remain
anonymous to make them feel more confident to give honest answer.
3.3 Sample
I will phone several agencies and will manage to secure interviews with 12-20 travel
agents. A few days before the interviews, these respondents will be sent an outline of my
study so that they could perhaps begin to prepare their responses. This would hopefully
yield richer data for me to use. These interviews will be mostly conducted face to face. I
will record the interviews and will take extensive notes during them.
3.4 Analysis of Data
Tourism is a promising sector in Bangladesh having a steady growth rate of around 16%
(Table 1) except in 2013-2014 which has a growth rate of only 10.73% (Table 1).
Earning from tourism has a slow rising growth trend. Though there is sudden fall in
tourism growth in 2013-04, total GDP growth is almost unaffected. It implies that GDP is
not very much depending on tourism apparently. On an average, around BDT4598.32
million (Table 2) is earned from tourism which has been experienced an average growth
rate of 8.41% (Table 2).
Table 1. Growth of Tourism, Total GDP and GDP Excluding Tourism

Growth 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016

Growth of 13.16% 13.28% 10.73% 14.38% 16.09%

Tourism
contribution
Growth rate of 6.14% 5.88% 4.54% 5.31% 5.31%

GDP
excluding
Tourism
Growth rate of 6.63% 6.43% 5.19% 7.014% 8.92%

GDP

Source: Bangladesh Economic Review 2016 (Ministry of Finance) and 2016 Bangladesh Economic
Impact Report, World Trade and Tourism Council

Table 2. Foreign Earnings from Tourism (In Million BDT)

Years 2004 2005 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Aver STD
- - - - - - - - - - age EV
2005 2006 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Total 2653 3312 3310 3967 4493 5530 5265 6124 6262 6562 4598. 1221.
Foreig .80 .60 .00 .56 .89 .65 .19 .52 .24 .70 32 60
n
Excha
nge
% 1.02 24.8 -0.08 19.8 13.2 23.2 -4.80 16.3 -5.92 -3.46 8.41 12.24
Chang 2 7 7 7 2
e

Source: Tourism Statistics 2016, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation

4. Findings and Recommendation:-

4.1 Findings:-
It is widely recognized that Bangladesh is very rich by the natural beauty and panoramic
views, what a tourist wants to enjoy. But there is lack of effective initiatives, proper
management plan, and quick & sincere effort from responsible authority. Bangladesh is a
reverie country. She has vast natural beauty and a glorious historical background. Since
liberation Bangladesh has progressed a lot and has paved her way to development with a
good agro-based economy as well as industry and service sector.Tourism is a part of
service. But it has good associations with some other sub-sector of service and non
service sectors. A large number of employment opportunities are being created by this
sector. Tour operator business is doing well in Bangladesh. Thousands of young people
have engaged themselves as tourists’ guide. Moreover some other induced impact of
truism results in economic progress in local area and the country as a
whole.Communication, throughout the country, is developed because of tourism. As a
result, other economic activities are augmented. Based on findings, some
recommendations are suggested.

4.2 Recommendation:-
Tourism is an industry of providing services. It could not be isolated from other sectors;
rather it depends on some combined effort of other service sub-sectors like hotel and
motels, transports, foods, security, guide etc. These facilities are the infrastructures of
tourism which is still far behind from satisfactory level. Bangladesh is blessed with huge
natural beauty which constitutes major part of tourism industry. Proper maintenance of
these beauties along with assuring other logistic facilities can make the tourism most
lucrative sector. For this, concentrations are to be made on some areas.

5. Conclusion:-
Tourism is a promising sector in Bangladesh. It is a growing sector with an increasing
contribution in GDP. Mere some infrastructural development can make the sector
sustainable. Though the contribution of this sector is already at significant level, it is
important to maintain the industry’s sustainability for not to hamper regular growth in
GDP. An economy has a regular growth in its size. This growth is contributed by all
sectors of it. Importance should be given on tourism for its maintenance and growth.

6. References:-

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The Daily Star (2013, August 18). Tourist police to ensure security of tourists.The Daily
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 World Travel and Tourism Council (2011). Travel & Tourism Impact-Bangladesh 2011,
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An Evaluative Study on Tourism in Bangladesh

Prepared For
Dr. Momtazur Rahman
Faculty,
Department of Language

Prepared By
Md. Zaidur Rashid
ID # 14111008
Program # BATHM
Section: K
Serial No. 12
 Submission Date: 22nd December, 2017

IUBAT- International University of Business Agriculture and Technology